In this letter, Nehru explains how life began on Earth, a topic that's challenging but fascinating. He begins by discussing what defines life, noting that humans, animals, and plants are all living beings. Some life forms, like certain plants and animals, blur the line between animal and plant, making it hard to classify them. He mentions the scientist Sir Jagadish Bose, who believed even stones might have life, though this is difficult to prove. Nehru then explores how life likely started after the Earth cooled down. The first living things were probably simple, jelly-like organisms without bones or shells, which lived in the sea. These primitive life forms multiplied by dividing themselves in two, and while they left no fossils, similar jelly-like organisms still exist today. As time passed, more complex animals like shellfish, crabs, and worms appeared, followed by fishes and other creatures with hard shells or bones. Nehru explains how fossils of these creatures have been preserved in rocks, which scientists use to understand Earth's early life forms. He concludes by promising to explain in future letters how these simple animals evolved into more complex beings.

In this letter, Nehru explains to his daughter the origins and formation of the Earth, the solar system, and celestial bodies. He begins by describing how the Earth revolves around the Sun, along with other planets, and how the Moon orbits the Earth as its satellite. This collection of planets and their moons, bound by the Sun, forms the solar system. He differentiates between stars and planets, explaining that stars shine on their own due to their heat, while planets, including the Earth and Moon, reflect sunlight. Nehru further explains that the Earth and planets were once part of the Sun, formed when pieces of the Sun's fiery mass broke away. These pieces remained connected to the Sun through gravitational pull, just like a rope. Over time, these fragments, including the Earth, cooled down, making it possible for life to eventually develop. He also touches on the formation of the Moon, possibly from a portion of the Earth, and the creation of oceans from water vapor that condensed after the Earth's cooling. Nehru concludes by hinting that life began on Earth after this long cooling process, which he will explore in his next letter.

 

In this letter, Nehru explains how early history was written by observing the natural world. He refers to nature as a "book" that reveals the Earth's ancient history, where rocks, mountains, rivers, and other natural elements tell stories of a time when no humans or animals existed. As time progressed, animals appeared, followed by early humans, who were initially similar to animals but developed the power of thought, which made them stronger and more capable. Nehru describes how, through experience and learning, humans advanced by discovering fire, farming, clothing, and building shelters. As people gathered in groups, cities emerged, and eventually, writing systems developed. However, for a long time, there was no paper, and people wrote on tree bark or palm leaves. Books were rare because they had to be copied by hand. With the rise of cities, nations formed, and people began to feel superior to others from different places, leading to wars—a foolish practice that continues even today. Nehru mentions that although few ancient books survive, stone inscriptions, such as those by King Ashoka, help us understand the past. He emphasizes India's rich history, citing the times when great epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata were written and the country was powerful. Nehru contrasts this with the present, where India is poor and under foreign rule, but expresses hope that with effort, India could become free again and improve the lives of its people. Nehru promises to delve deeper into the early history of the earth In his next letter.

 

Starting "Letters From a Father" in English!  Letter #1 "The Book of Nature"  

In this letter, Nehru writes to his daughter Indira that he would  share the story of the earth through letters. Since living far apart, they can no longer have their usual conversations, he hopes to broaden her understanding of the world beyond India and England, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all countries and peoples.

Nehru introduces the concept of Earth's ancient history, noting that before human life, there were animals, and before that, no life at all. He describes how scientists study fossils, rocks, and the Earth's natural elements to understand this history. These natural elements—like mountains, rivers, and stones—are akin to a "book" that can be read to understand Earth's past.

He encourages Indira to learn the "alphabet" of nature to read its stories, using a small, smooth pebble as an example of how nature tells its history. He explains how the pebble, once a rough rock, became smooth through the movement of rivers, illustrating the dynamic processes that shape the Earth. Through this analogy, Nehru highlights the richness of nature's stories and the importance of observing and understanding the world around us.

After recording each letter/chapter individually, I have now compiled them into a complete audiobook! Presenting the full Hindi audiobook of Jawaharlal Nehru’s 'Letters from a Father' translated by the renowned author Munshi Premchand!!

The book was first published in 1929, and over the years, numerous reprints and editions have kept this work alive for new generations. This audiobook is yet another step in continuing that legacy.

Written as educational essays on natural and human history, the letters were composed while Nehru was imprisoned in Allahabad. These letters reflect a father’s deep desire to nurture his daughter’s understanding of the world beyond the confines of formal education.

You can find the English version here: